Duc Duong Clarifies: Quang Duong Deal with APP Not Exclusive, Says Son Free to Play Anywhere
The APP Tour recently made waves when it posted on its website and socials that it has signed pickleball superstar Quang Duong to a deal. The posts suggest the APP Tour, a direct competitor of the PPA Tour, has brought in Avatar to exclusively play for them.
But, apparently, such is not the case—at least according to Quang Duong’s father, Duc.
“You know, we just committed to play four tournaments with the APP in the US, and that’s pretty much it,” the elder Duong told Zane Navratil in an emergency episode of the latter’s Pickle Pod podcast.
Duc Duong added that his son is doing things on a contract-by-contract basis and has committed to playing just four tournaments for the APP Tour and another four with D-Joy in Vietnam as a favour to his godson.
“That’s why I said, QD, we are free. We can do anything we want as long as we are free. And we got what we wanted with the APP,” Duc added. “I think both sides benefit from it [APP Tour deal]. And that’s it. When they post, they send me the picture… QD was the guy who [asked] why I just play four tournaments. But I told him, ‘Let them be because either way would be fine with us.’”
Later in the podcast, the elder Duong reiterated that a reconciliation with the PPA Tour is still something he and his son are eyeing in the future. Unfortunately, according to Duc, the financial aspect of Quang Duong’s potential return to the PPA Tour “doesn’t make any sense” just yet—for the time being, at least.
So, if Duc Duong is to be believed, Quang Duong is as free as a bird despite signing a deal with the APP Tour.
(Watch the podcast episode below.)
